Yankees notebook: Pineda to miss time with injury

Yankees starting pitcher Michael Pineda was suspended during this game last week against Boston for pine tar, but he will be out even longer after injuring himself in a sim game on Tuesday.(Photo: Elise Amendola/AP)

NEW YORK – Michael Pineda won't rejoin the Yankees' rotation for another three to four weeks, and this time it has nothing to do with pine tar.

The Yankees' starter was pitching a simulated game on Tuesday but pulled himself after one inning because of tightness along his right side. An MRI revealed a Grade 1 strain of the teres major, a muscle located near the shoulder and the lat.

Pineda is currently serving a 10-game suspension for having pine tar on his neck during last week's start in Boston. He was expected to be activated on Monday for a start against the Angels, but that's no longer going to happen.

Manager Joe Girardi said David Phelps — who's scheduled to make his first start of the season on Wednesday — will likely stay in the rotation for the time being.

Through a team spokesman, general manager Brian Cashman said he wasn't sure whether the Yankees would put Pineda on the disabled list immediately or wait until his suspension has ended. While Pineda is suspended but not on the disabled list, the Yankees are forced to play with a 24-man roster instead of a 25-man.

"I don't know what the procedure is there," Girardi said.

Ellsbury out with sore hand: Center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury was out of the Yankees' lineup on Tuesday, kept on the bench because of soreness in his left hand. Tests came back negative, but Girardi said he wanted to give Ellsbury time to rest and heal.

"His hand has been sore the last couple of days," Girardi said. "He had a test (Monday). The test came back good so I'm giving him today off in the hopes that it'll clear it up. Obviously we had a test done so there's no structural damage. It's just been sore."

Ellsbury didn't address the media, and Girardi said he wasn't sure what caused the soreness, only that it had been "bothering him for a few days." Girardi said he still considered Ellsbury available for defense and pinch running, and it sounds like the disabled list is unlikely.

Wolff recognized Thursday: Bob Wolff, whose broadcast career includes calling Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series and the Colts' win over the Giants in the 1958 NFL championship game, has earned a new Guinness World Records title for the "Longest Career as a Broadcaster." Wolff's record will be certified in a pregame ceremony on Thursday at Yankee Stadium.

Yankee clippings: The Yankees announced that Ivan Nova's scheduled Tommy John surgery went "as expected" on Tuesday. … Left-handed hitter Kelly Johnson was out of Tuesday's lineup against a right-handed pitcher. Girardi said there was no health problem, just part of his rotation to also give switch hitters Brian Roberts and Yangervis Solarte time at second and third. … New long reliever Chris Leroux made his Yankees debut with a scoreless ninth inning on Tuesday.